The Italian national football team, once the proud winner of four World Cups, is stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of failure — and now its coaching search has imploded in a political and reputational disaster. On 27 July 2026, Andrea Pirlo announced he was no longer a candidate for the head coach job, following outrage over his ties to a Russian betting company. Hours later, sporting legends Paolo Maldini and Leonardo resigned from their Italian Football Federation (FIGC) roles, just 16 days after being appointed. Italy's quest to rebuild after missing a third consecutive World Cup has descended into chaos, leaving the federation without a technical director or a manager.
At the centre of the storm is Pirlo, the elegant former midfielder who was part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning side. He had been the preferred choice of Maldini, the new technical director. But Pirlo's role as a global ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian betting company, drew fierce criticism from Italian politicians. Fonbet has sponsored events involving veterans of Moscow's war in Ukraine and has organised appearances alongside pro-Kremlin figures. Carlo Calenda of the centrist Azione party stated: "Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office." Pirlo defended the partnership as "exclusively of a commercial and sporting nature" and said he had never expressed political beliefs. But the damage was done. The FIGC blocked his appointment, and Maldini and his adviser Leonardo — both former AC Milan greats — walked away in protest.
“Italy's national team crisis: why hiring a manager led to resignations and what it means for UK football fans.”
This crisis is the latest chapter in a long decline for the Azzurri. After winning Euro 2020 in 2021 under Roberto Mancini, Italy failed to qualify for the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cups — the first time a former champion has missed three successive tournaments. Gennaro Gattuso, who took over after Mancini, resigned in April 2026 after a qualifying campaign that saw Italy finish below Norway and lose to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-offs. The federation had hoped to reboot with Maldini and Pirlo, but those plans have collapsed, leaving the team at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years.
For UK readers, the Italian crisis matters for several reasons. Italy is one of England's historic rivals — the two nations met in the Euro 2020 final, won by Italy on penalties. A strong Italy team raises the quality of international tournaments. Many Italian players also feature in the Premier League, such as Jorginho (formerly at Chelsea), and the national team's struggles can affect their form and availability. Moreover, the saga highlights how geopolitical tensions — specifically the war in Ukraine — now ripple into football governance, a trend UK fans and clubs may increasingly encounter.
Q: Why was Andrea Pirlo blocked from the Italy job? Pirlo was blocked because of his role as a global ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian betting company. Critics argued that promoting a Russian firm after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine made him unfit for a national office role in Italian football.
Q: Who is Fonbet and why is it controversial? Fonbet is a Russian betting company that has sponsored sporting events involving veterans of Moscow's war in Ukraine and organised events where Pirlo appeared alongside pro-Kremlin figures. Its ties to the Russian state during the ongoing war made Pirlo's association politically unacceptable to many Italian politicians and federation officials.
Q: What are Italy's chances of finding a new manager soon? The FIGC must now find both a new technical director and a head coach. Several high-profile names have been linked, including Roberto Mancini, Thiago Motta, and Antonio Conte, but the federation's internal turmoil and the political sensitivity of appointments could delay the process. The team has no competitive matches until at least the next international break, but rebuilding a shattered program will take time.
What happens next is uncertain. The federation president, Giovanni Malagò, faces an immediate crisis: he must appoint a new technical director and manager while restoring credibility. The FIGC had earlier approached Pep Guardiola, who declined for personal reasons, and Carlo Ancelotti, who stayed with Brazil. With Italy's World Cup drought now stretching to four tournaments in 12 years, the stakes could not be higher — but for now, Italian football is in turmoil, searching for a way back to relevance.
